· The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022 on 22-26 May in Davos, Switzerland will focus on History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies
· Against a backdrop of the global pandemic, the war in Ukraine and geo-economic challenges, the meeting convenes at a strategic point where public figures and global leaders will meet in person to reconnect, exchange insights, gain fresh perspectives and advance solutions
· The meeting’s overriding priority is to accelerate progress and make an impact in tackling global challenges and improving the state of the world
· For more information, visit www.wef.ch/wef22 or use #wef22 on social media
Geneva, Switzerland, 18 May 2022 – The World Economic Forum announced today the theme and details of its Annual Meeting 2022, to be held 22-26 May in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The theme is, History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies. After a two-year hiatus, the meeting will bring together nearly 2,500 leaders and experts from around the globe, all committed to the “Davos Spirit” of improving the state of the world. A list of confirmed public figures can be found here and the full list of participants here.
Against the backdrop of deepening global frictions and fractures and a once-in-a-century pandemic, the unprecedented global context calls for purpose and resolve, and the meeting’s ambition is to rise to these challenges. Over the past two years, the World Economic Forum has strengthened its impact initiatives, which deal with issues ranging from COVID-19 and climate change to education as well as technology and energy governance. These include the Reskilling Revolution, an initiative to provide 1 billion people with better education, skills and jobs by 2030; an initiative on universal environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics and disclosures to measure stakeholder capitalism; and the 1 Trillion trees initiative, 1t.org, to protect our trees and forests and restore the planet’s ecosystems.
With the world at such a critical turning point, global business and government leaders need to work together to develop long-term policies and strategies that will revitalize the hard-hit global economy, strengthen the progress made to advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution and tackle the single greatest threat to humanity, climate change.
“The Annual Meeting is the first summit that brings global leaders together in this new situation characterized by an emerging multipolar world as a result of the pandemic and war. The fact that nearly 2,500 leaders from politics, business civil society and media come together in person demonstrates the need for a trusted, informal and action-oriented global platform to confront the issues in a crisis-driven world,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.
Cutting across the theme of the meeting are several priorities and issues that define the current moment and will shape the years to come. The programme will focus on six thematic pillars:
- Fostering global and regional cooperation: How to restore stability amid a new era of geopolitical conflict and tension as well as advancing trade, prosperity and partnerships.
- Securing the economic recovery and shaping a new era of growth: How to stabilize the real economy and the financial system, while also determining the future of balanced growth, globalization and development.
- Building healthy and equitable societies: How to move beyond the health emergency phase of the pandemic, rebuilding in its wake and strengthening health resilience for future threats as well as investing in good jobs, living wages, skills and education, not forgetting to redefine stakeholder capitalism for a new context.
- Safeguarding climate, food and nature: How to continue to secure food systems, and building a nature-based economy as well as sequencing the energy transition and building a green economy.
- Driving industry transformation: How to balance innovation, resilience and efficiency across industries as well as building on Forum initiatives such as the Future of jobs, the Edison Alliance and reskilling initiatives that are helping equip industries and workers with the tools to succeed in a changing world.
- Harnessing the power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: How to enhance technology governance and cyber security as well as the Forum’s fast-growing network of Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which shape new policies and strategies by leveraging science, technology and innovation.
More than 50 heads of state and government are expected to join, among the 300 governmental representatives, to share their vision for the world. Over 1,250 leaders from the private sector will be participating, along with nearly 100 Global Innovators and Technology Pioneers – the world’s most promising tech and business start-ups and scale-ups.
Civil society will be represented by more than 200 leaders from NGOs, social entrepreneurs, academia, labour organizations, faith-based and religious groups, and over 400 media leaders and reporting press. The Annual Meeting will also bring together younger generations, with 100 members of the Forum’s Global Shaper and Young Global Leader communities participating.
Continuing the journey of a more sustainable Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting 2022 will be ISO 20121-certified. The Forum aims to reduce the CO2 emissions of all its activities and, since 2017, all emissions are calculated and offset 100% by supporting environmental projects in Switzerland and abroad.
About the Annual Meeting 2022
For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Annual Meeting is the focal point for leaders to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle global challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. Convening under the theme ‘History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies’, the Annual Meeting 2022 and its 200 sessions brings together global leaders from business, government and civil society. Learn more about the programme and view sessions live and on-demand.